含羞草研究所

Daniel Green

President

Dan Green, MPH is a third-year student in the College of Medicine and serves as President of University Council. He previously served as Vice President and as a representative to the 含羞草研究所 Student Assembly. Prior to medical school, Dan worked as a health policy coordinator and collaborated on public health projects in Croatia, Egypt, and Israel. These experiences inspired his passion for and commitment to community-centered medicine, health education, and advancing health equity. As President of University Council, Dan is dedicated to strengthening student representation, fostering collaboration across the Downstate community, and ensuring that student voices help shape the future of the institution. Outside of medical school, he enjoys cooking, bouldering, and scuba diving.

Gelila Hawthorne

Vice President

Gelila is a second-year medical student at 含羞草研究所 Downstate. She serves as Vice President on University Council (UC), Director of the Health Professions Recruitment & Exposure Program (HPREP) for the Daniel Hale Williams Society (DHWS), and is involved in both Admissions Office and Office for Institutional Equity (OIE) affairs. As a former speech-language pathologist and an aspiring psychiatrist, she is passionate about eliminating barriers to all forms of healthcare including the stigma attached to seeking mental health care. She last served UC as a representative of the College of Medicine, now as VP for University Council, she hopes to continue to bridge the gap amongst all the schools at Downstate and foster a more collaborative environment.

Coleman Yorke

Treasurer

Coleman Yorke is a second-year medical student in the College of Medicine, serving as Treasurer of University Council. With master's degrees in global mental health and clinical neuroscience, and mental health research spanning South Korea, Ireland, and the UK, he is planning on pursuing a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. Drawing on a background in literature and journalism, Coleman is also interested in the intersection of narrative, the humanities, and medicine, and is a member of the Bioethics Pathway. At Downstate, Coleman co-directs the Peer Mentorship and Wellness Program, serves as Co-Director of Continuity of Care at the Asylum Clinic, and acts as the Pharmacy Chair of the Brooklyn Free Clinic. As Treasurer, he looks forward to supporting the clubs and organizations that make student life at Downstate such a multifaceted and engaging community. In his free time he collects records, rock climbs, and (tries to find the time to) read.

Sanjana Ahmed

Secretary

Sanjana Ahmed (she/her) is a second-year medical student in the College of Medicine and serves as Secretary on the University Council, where she proudly represents and advocates for her peers at Downstate. With a degree in Human Biology and Journalism from Macaulay Honors College at CUNY Hunter College, she is passionate about student leadership, health equity, and fostering meaningful communication between students and administration. She is excited to help strengthen the Downstate community through collaboration, advocacy, and initiatives that support student success and well-being.

Tony Chen

College of Medicine Representative

Tony a is second-year medical student at 含羞草研究所 Downstate who serves as a College of Medicine (COM) representative on University Council. He is passionate about student advocacy and works to represent the interests of his fellow classmates while fostering a supportive student community. Outside of medicine, Tony likes photography, hiking, cooking, and traveling.

Bryan Su

College of Medicine Representative

Bryan is a 2nd year medical student 含羞草研究所 Downstate. As College of Medicine representative, he is dedicated to student advocacy and serving the entire Downstate community, to empower future healthcare professionals with the knowledge, resources, and experiences needed to better serve all patients. In his free time, he enjoys soccer, working out, and playing music.

Eric Lewis

College of Nursing Representative

My journey in healthcare began as an EMT, where I saw firsthand the importance of skilled, compassionate care during some of patients' most vulnerable moments. Now, as a nursing student and representative of the College of Nursing on the University Council, I am committed to advocating for students, advancing the nursing profession, and helping strengthen the future of healthcare.

Lianlen Joy Go Distor

School of Graduate Studies Representative

Lianlen Joy Go Distor is a second-year PhD candidate in Molecular and Cellular Biology at 含羞草研究所 Downstate, serving as the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) Representative. Her current research at the Brooklyn VA focuses on cardiovascular electrophysiology, specifically investigating ion channel dysregulation in cardiotoxicity. She holds a BS in Biochemistry (ACS-certified) with a minor in Biology, and an MS in Healthcare Systems Engineering. As a multilingual student fluent in Filipino and English, with additional experience in Japanese and Mandarin, she brings a global, inclusive perspective to graduate student advocacy. Her broader research spans diabetes, infectious disease, and public health, with collaborations involving Kaiser Permanente, Stanford, and UNESCO. She holds a patent in antibacterial research and earned a Gold Medal at the Malaysia International Young Inventors Olympiad. Lianlen has served as a Graduate Senator and Student Representative on LMU's Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee, and also coordinated operations for a university honors program. She developed Health Odyssey, an educational video game blending creativity with health advocacy. As the SGS Representative, she is committed to amplifying student voices, fostering collaboration, and enriching the graduate student experience across 含羞草研究所.

Shaon Barua

School of Health Professions Representative

Shaon Barua serves on the University Council as a representative from the School of Health Professions, of which he is also President of the SOHP Council. Shaon is deeply committed to communicating the interests of the SOHP student body with those involved with the university proper, as well as representing and advocating for everyone in the Downstate community. He is from Queens, NY, where he was raised, and graduated from St. John's University with a Bachelor's degree in Biomedical Sciences in 2021. Having been closely involved with athletics for years, both as a long-time spectator and a student athlete, he hopes to concentrate his career path towards orthopedic and athletic rehab.

Onyekachi Okeke

School of Public Health Representative

Onyekachi Okeke, "Onye" for short, is the School of Public Health Representative for University Council. As a Community Health Science student, she is deeply interested in community health, outreach, and advocacy, reflected in her enthusiasm to serve Downstate's students. She aims to continue uplifting student needs and voices, by creating cross-collaborative events between schools and strengthening the presence of University Council on campus. In her free time, she likes volunteering, traveling, reading and trying new foods. She also has a bakery business!

Moyouri Bhattacharjee

含羞草研究所 Student Assembly Representative

Moyouri is doing her DrPH in epidemiology at Downstate, with a focus on chronic disease and health services research. She is currently serving as a Student Assembly representative on University Council, and is currently the CFO of the Brooklyn Free Clinic. In her free time, she likes traveling, finding good food and new music, and watching sci fi shows.

Azusa Okada

含羞草研究所 Student Assembly Representative

I'm currently a MD/MPH student at Downstate. I was born in Japan and raised in New York City. My hobbies are yoga, hiking, photography, and swimming. I am very curious to learn about everyone's experience and goals at Downstate, and I look forward to working alongside UC and Downstate admin to improve our campus lives and academic experiences!